Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Frederick William
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Reign 6 September 1860 – 30 May 1904
Predecessor George
Successor Adolf Friedrich V
Born (1819-10-17)17 October 1819
Neustrelitz
Died 30 May 1904(1904-05-30) (aged 84)
Neustrelitz
Consort Princess Augusta of Cambridge
Issue Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Full name
Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Georg Ernst Adolf Gustav
House House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Father George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
Mother Princess Marie of Hesse-Cassel
Religion Lutheranism

Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, KG (17 October 1819 – 30 May 1904) was a German sovereign who ruled over the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1860 until his death.

Biography

He was born in Neustrelitz, the son of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel. He spent his youth in Neustrelitz and later went to study history and jurisprudence in Bonn. After finishing his studies, he went travelling to Italy and Switzerland. He became a Doctor of Civil Law of the University of Oxford.

Friedrich Wilhelm succeeded as Grand Duke on the death of his father on 6 September 1860. During his reign, Mecklenburg-Strelitz became a member first of the North German Confederation and then the German Empire. Friedrich Wilhelm was a large land owner with more than half of the entire grand duchy his personal property.[1]

On 12 August 1862 Friedrich Wilhelm was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.[2]

He died at Neustrelitz on the 30 May 1904 and was succeeded by his only son, who became Adolf Friedrich V.

Marriage and children

Friedrich Wilhelm was married on 28 June 1843 at Buckingham Palace to his first cousin, Princess Augusta of Cambridge, a member of the British Royal Family and a granddaughter of King George III. The two were also second cousins on their fathers' side. They had two sons:[3]

Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Augusta celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by distributing 25 Pfennig from the public treasury to every citizen of the grand duchy.[4]

Titles and styles

Ancestry

References

  1. ↑ "Wealthiest Grand Duke dead" (PDF). New York Times. 1904-05-31. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  2. ↑ "The Gentleman's Magazine". F. Jefferies. 1862. p. 350.
  3. ↑ Online Gotha
  4. ↑ "Six Cents to Every Subject.". New York Times. 1903-07-05. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Cadet branch of the House of Mecklenburg
Born: 17 October 1819 Died: 30 May 1904
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Georg		 Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1860–1904 		Succeeded by
Adolf Friedrich V
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